Dirty, windblasted seas the theme of the week
AN APPEAL to all coastal shore fishermen: we are heading for trouble with the filth being left on our beaches.
This year’s successful shad run has just exacerbated matters. If we want to fish our coastline we have all got to behave more responsibly, clean up after ourselves and encourage fellow anglers to do the same. Complaints of stinking bait, fishing line, bait boxes etc left on shore are appearing increasingly in our local press – it’s only a matter of time before further fishing restrictions are imposed.
The Kingfisher’s heaviest shad competition is well under way for September, with about two weeks still left. The current heaviest shad is 5.930kg, followed by 5.066kg and a smaller shad of 3.46kg in third place. So, guys and girls, there is still time get that big one and claim those fantastic prizes.
With the wind not knowing in which direction to blow, it has made for a really topsy turvy sea and many anglers not knowing what to do.
Kosi Bay – Some small kingfish, namely GTs and blue-spot kingfish, have been caught in clear water, although with the windy conditions the sea has been a bit rough.
Cape Vidal/St Lucia – This area is producing a lot of shad, although not many above 600g. With water being clean the recent Ballies and Babes competition produced a large number of shad. A few of these fish had definite bite marks, yet live baits put out for the predators were left alone.
Mapelane – With dirty water and really rough conditions, only a few kob were caught. These fish were either hooked on live bait or chokka baits.
Richards Bay – The bay area is still producing garrick, although not as plentifully as in the past weeks. There are a number of small spinner sharks on throw baits and kob on live bait slides.
Tugela – With the river pumping into the sea, dirty water has made for difficult fishing. A few kob and a small grey shark were all for this area.
Tugela Angling Club is celebrating its centenary year and is trying to reach all past and retired members to join in the celebration on October 6. Please contact club secretary Liezel at 083 417 9333 for more info.
Zinkwazi – With dirty water conditions and lots of weed in the water, not many anglers have fished this area.
Umhlanga – A few grey sharks off the rocks at the lighthouse have been reported. Shad have been caught off the beaches and, while targeting these fish, black-tail have made a pest of themselves.
Virginia – A few big shad have been hooked, mainly on smaller shad live baits.
Durban Piers – The small red fish have been plaguing fishermen on the piers. Some small shad and a few sole basically sum up all the action.
Beachfront – Weather permitting, the shad are still around as well as the odd stumpnose. Grey sharks are also infrequent and hopefully the flatfish will come soon.
Bluff – Small kingfish species, a few lantern fish (cave bass), the odd stumpy and black-tail have been caught in this area. Small hooks with well-presented baits are the best ammo.
Toti – Home of the big shad! The current first- and second-placed shad have been caught in this area – slide baits such as mullet and smaller shad with no wire have done the trick .
Winkle – A few garrick and shad have been caught, but only in the morning. There are lots of small black-tail and stone bream, which can be great fun using McCarthy worm on light jig heads for drop-shot buffs.
Umkomaas – Not really much to offer, save the odd kob, with a few shad and small snapper salmon.
Scottburgh – Very dirty water with lots of debris and even more seaweed has left this area basically unfishable.
Margate – There are still a lot of shad and some bronze bream for those prepared to travel. A lovely stumpnose of 3.4kg was caught on sea lice (mole crab) on a 2.0 Mustad Kendal Round.
Transkei/ Port St Johns – With most of the rivers in the area flooding into the sea, the result is very dirty water and a fair amount of debris. The odd kob and a few big raggies sum up the area.
Meanwhile, with big winds come big seas, and with the wind changing on a whim ski-boat skippers have been left shaking their heads.
From north to south, not much fishing has been done. And when there is a respite in the weather, skippers have been targeting some coppers and boating a few massive fish – we have heard of a few over 30kg.
Please remember that there is a limit of one fish per person, and closed season is coming up. Bottom fish such as reds, soldiers and a few nice rock cod have been the reward for a testing launch.
Paddle-skiers are suffering a similar fate as the ski-boat skippers – with big and rough seas not many plucky paddlers have wanted to paddle. But the brave have caught some nice-sized shad and the odd garrick.
Why not use the bad weather to prepare summer tackle?
Double-check any hooks that could be rusted on lures and traces, and get ready for the good times.
Durban Bay – With the Umbilo Canal served by catchment areas, the bay is dirty with a lot of debris. Very few fish have been caught. Small grunter and some juvenile stumpnose sum up the edibles, with small sand gurnards and small kingfish being caught on artificials. Give it some time and it could be back to its beautiful best.
September is always a good time for fly-fishing. The mornings are a bit warmer and the fish more active. They seem to take the fly readily, especially when a slightly faster strip/retrieve is used.
Bass – Goudetrou Dam is producing nice fish on Daiwa Jerk baits and Norman Crank baits. Inanda Dam is producing nice fish on dead ringers, especially the watermelon red fleck colour.
The sixth Bass Classic will be held this weekend at Mnini Dam, which is within 15 minutes’ drive of Amanzimtoti. It is a two-man-per-boat event, and fishing takes place on September 22 and 23.
The total cost for the two days is R350 per team. Entry forms with rules are available at tackle shops in the Toti/Warners area. Entries will also be accepted at the dam. For more info phone Ron at 083 300 7528.